Police officers giving evidence
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X16674022 |
| Date | 01 June 2017 |
| Published date | 01 June 2017 |
| Author | David Brian,Andrew Cruickshank |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Article
Police officers giving
evidence: Discussing
gaps, contradictions
and next steps
David Brian
UCLan Policing, School of Forensic and Applied Science, University of
Central Lancashire, Preston, UK
Dr Andrew Cruickshank
School of Sport and Wellbeing, University of Central Lancashire, Preston,
UK
Abstract
This article reviews Police Research Series Paper 15, The Presentation of Police Evidence in
Court (Stockdale and Gresham, 1995), and the role of police officers giving testimony in
court. In particular, consideration is given to the recommendations made and subse-
quent developments, or lack thereof, in police literature and practice. Police officers are
well prepared to manage the pre-trial investigation but still receive little preparation, or
guidance from researchers, for performing as witnesses at court. Key factors in effec-
tively presenting evidence are reviewed and directions outlined for building knowledge
on preparing police officers to perform in court whilst upholding obligation to victims
and the legal standard of public interest.
Keywords
Witness effectiveness, policing training, police legitimacy, performance under pressure
Corresponding author:
David Brian, UCLan Pol icing, School of Fore nsic and Applied Scien ce, University of Cent ral Lancashire,
Preston, PR1 2HE, UK.
Email: djbrian@uclan.ac.uk
The Police Journal:
Theory, Practice and Principles
2017, Vol. 90(2) 160–172
ªThe Author(s) 2016
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DOI: 10.1177/0032258X16674022
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